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Volume 61 Supplement 1

Special Issue: Magnetism of Volcanic Materials-Tribute to Works of Michel Prévot

First archeointensity results from Portuguese potteries (1550-1750 AD)

Earth, Planets and Space volume 61, pages 93–100 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Geomagnetic field variations at archeomagnetic timescales can be obtained from well-dated heated structures and archeological potsherds. Here, we present the first archeointensity results obtained on Portuguese ceramics (1550 to 1750 AD) collected at Brazilian archeological sites. The results are compared to those obtained from Western Europe and currently available geomagnetic field models. Continuous thermomagnetic and IRM acquisitions curves indicate that Ti-poor titanomagnetite is responsible for the remanence in these ceramic fragments. Five fragments (24 samples) out of twelve analyzed yielded reliable intensity estimates. The row archeointensity data were corrected for TRM anisotropy and cooling rate effect. The mean dipole moments are obtained for three different age intervals: 1550±30 AD, 1600±30 AD and 1750±50 AD. Mean intensities vary from 37.9±4.2 μT to 54.8±7.6 μT in agreement with the previously reported data for 1550 AD and 1750 AD. Relatively weaker, but still highly dispersed, values were obtained for 1600 AD ceramics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Geofísica, Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 1226, 05508-090, São Paulo, Brazil

    Gelvam A. Hartmann & Ricardo I. F. Trindade

  2. Laboratorio de Paleomagnetismo y Geofisica Nuclear, Instituto de Geofisica, Universidad Nacional Aut’onoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, México, DF, Mexico

    Avto Goguitchaichvili & Juan Morales

  3. Laboratorio Interinstitucional de Magnetismo Natural, Instituto de Geofisica, Universidad Nacional Aut’onoma de México, Tzintzuntzan, 310, 58098, Morelia, Mexico

    Avto Goguitchaichvili & Juan Morales

  4. Departamento de Antropologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Terreiro de Jesus, Prédio da Faculdade de Medicina, 40026-010, Salvador, Brazil

    Carlos Etchevarne

  5. Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, 1466, 05508-090, São Paulo, Brazil

    Marisa C. Afonso

Authors
  1. Gelvam A. Hartmann
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  2. Ricardo I. F. Trindade
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  3. Avto Goguitchaichvili
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  4. Carlos Etchevarne
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  5. Juan Morales
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  6. Marisa C. Afonso
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Correspondence to Gelvam A. Hartmann.

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Hartmann, G.A., Trindade, R.I.F., Goguitchaichvili, A. et al. First archeointensity results from Portuguese potteries (1550-1750 AD). Earth Planet Sp 61, 93–100 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352888

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352888

Key words

  • Archeointensity
  • secular variation
  • cooling rate correction
  • Portuguese pottery